The Newcastle United striker Sammy Ameobi, left, has been called up by the England Under-21s. Photograph: Paul Thomas/Action Images

Jack Rodwell's promotion to the senior England squad and injuries to two players have led to the England Under-21 coach, Stuart Pearce, making three changes to his 25-man squad for the Euro 2013 qualifier against Iceland in Colchester on Thursday.

The Everton midfielder Rodwell will be with England's senior side for friendlies against Spain and Sweden. Sunderland's Connor Wickham and Middlesbrough's Alex Nimely are unavailable through injury.

The Middlesbrough defender Joe Bennett, who missed last month's trips to Iceland and Norway through illness, Manchester United's Will Keane – who joins from the U19 squad – and the Newcastle forward Sammy Ameobi, in his first call-up, have been drafted in.

England follow Thursday's game by travelling to Mons in Belgium for their fifth Group 8 fixture on Monday.